Shaba Safaris

Shaba National Reserve consists of low lying, semi arid plain on the southern bank of the northern Ewaso Ngiro River. The reserve which lies 9km east of Buffalo Springs National Reserve was gazetted in 1974 and is administered by the Isiolo CC.

The beautiful stark landscape is dominated by Shaba Hill in the south, at the foot of which is a rugged area with steep ravines.

Shaba Price Guide

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How to get there

Shaba National Reserve can be reached by road via Isiolo from Nairobi.  SUNSAFARIS can arrange transfers to Shaba National Park’s camps and lodges.
Air
To/From Nairobi:  There are daily scheduled flights to Chaffa airstrip.

Joy's Camp

Joy's Camp is an elegant oasis built on the site of where the author and naturalist, Joy Adamson had her tented home in the Shaba National Reserve. The camp is also home to Penny, the Leopard, who is the heroine of Joy's last book. Joy's Camp overlooks a large natural spring where elephant and lion jostle for watering rights with herds of buffalo, Beisa Oryx, reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.

Joy's Camp

Shaba Sarova Lodge

Shaba Sarova is a luxury lodge nestles over the Ewaso Ngiro River in the heart of 'Born Free' country where the wildlife is concentrated in this semi-desert oasis. The lodge basks in the legacy bequeathed by Joy Adamson who raised her adopted animals next door to Shaba Sarova Lodge. Located in Shaba National Reserve, the lodge offers guests a chance to see the bounty of unique wildlife made famous by the film 'Born Free'.  

Shaba sarova Lodge

Shaba National Park Game Viewing

Introduction

Shaba National Reserve along with Samburu and Buffalo Springs of three small adjoining savannah national reserves that lie on either side of the northern Ewaso Ngiro River. They were established in 1948 as the Samburu Isiolo Game Reserve, part of the former Marsabit National Reserve.

Game Viewing

Shaba National Reserve is a semi desert made famous by conservationists Joy and George Adamson and the film 'Born Free'. Elephant, lion, cheetah, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuks, buffalo, oryx, Grant's gazelle, dik dik and waterbuck can be found in the reserve. Shaba National Park is also home to the Somali ostrich, lesser kudu, leopards and lions.  The river forest attracts many species of bird.

Seasons

The climate is dry and hot.  Rainfall averages between 250mm and 300mm per year.